More vigilance necessary for what happens in frail care units
WELL done to the Daily Dispatch for exposing such horrific abuse at one of our most expensive frail care facilities. Fortunately Hope Shepherd’s family took notice and were concerned enough to take action. Sadly that is not always the case and a lot of abuse goes unnoticed .
As a professional nurse and having worked in similar institutions for 20 years I know from experience that it takes a particular kind of nurse to care for these people as it is very hard work. The patients hardly ever get better and often they are far beyond being able to communicate effectively or even complain.
It is astonishing that the caregiver in this instance appears to have chosen an occupation that requires compassion for the patient, not abuse for whatever reason.
Let’s hope that this exposure will do some good and people involved in frail care will be more vigilant about what goes on in these facilities.
My very best wishes to Mrs Shepherd and her caring family. May her remaining time on this earth be pain and stress free and may she be safe and loved. — Hensen, Gonubie
FMY HUSBAND and I regularly visit someone at the Lily Kirchmann centre where we usually find him sleeping in his private room. Each time we arrive we comment on the fact that we just walk in without anybody asking whom we are visiting at the centre. Nobody there has any idea who we are or even that we have come and gone.
We have always found this lack of security rather frightening. — Name supplied, Beacon Bay
I HAVE just read the article about the torture of my grandmother, mother, aunt and sister. I may not be related to Hope Shepherd but to me she’s granny, mama, aunty and sisi.
This is one of those rare occasions where I am at an absolute loss for words. I can only cry. Oh Lord have mercy, what kind of a human being does this to a fellow human being? A frail, defenceless, old lady! Who does that?
If found guilty, the perpetrator of this heinous crime needs to (yes, needs to!) go to prison and remain there for the rest of her life.
As for the upmarket frail care centre, they need to stand before our beloved country and explain how something so horrendous could happen right under their noses. They owe us that!
We can’t turn a blind eye to abuse anymore. My prayers are with the Shepherd family. It’s gonna’ be okay. — Xoliswa Kentane-Vakalisa, via e-mail
Bright yet humble
SAM Kwelita was a committed cadre of the movement. He was literally unable to enjoy his youth as he was so deeply involved in the struggle. He was intelligent and fierce in discussions and debates.
I knew and interacted with him from our young days. He grew up in Dimbaza, King William’s Town. He was from a humble family and was brought up by his mother. He became involved in youth struggles and was a prominent youth leader in Dimbaza.
When the ANC was unbanned he rose up through the organisation serving in various capacities, including on ANC regional executive committees. He was among the cadres of the ANC’s 1994 detachment in the first sitting of the Eastern Cape legislature where he was an MPL from 1994 until 2009 for the ANC. He remained at the legislature until 2014 under the banner of Cope.
Those who served with him, either in a party or in government, will agree he was very bright and attest to his sharp eye and persuasive arguments.
Former colleagues and officials in the Eastern Cape cabinet and cabinet clusters will remember his contribution in issues of governance and finances. That is why he was made chair of the government and administration cluster. He would quickly pick up shortcomings in the financial reporting because of his financial acumen.
Kwelita will go down in history as a simple, but sophisticated cadre. He played his role in liberating the people as well as in reconstruction and development post-1994.
He had a good heart. He worried a lot about the conditions of the people of this country. This was clear when we engaged in political debates. He would put forward a topic and challenge us to discuss it. While stubborn, he would accept defeat in an argument. His wife, children, siblings and family must release him. His friends must do likewise. He has done his part. We must allow him to rest in peace. This has been a friend that most of us had to learn a lot from.
We all have to die one day. We need to continue writing our books, because Sam has written his, concluding his on May 5.
Rest in peace Jola. Rest in peace my friend. We will miss you and will not forget your contribution to set us free. — Sindisile Maclean, Eastern Cape
Who is this Winnie?
WHO is this Winnie Madikizela-Mandela hitting the headlines “Winnie: will executors ‘racist” (DD, May 7)?
It is strange that when some people do not get their way they resort to blaming apartheid or racism. The Winnie of old ostensibly fought for freedom and democracy. Now suddenly it suits her to say customary law is superior to civil law.
Maybe Winnie’s trouble is her upbringing because her dear old father, Madikizela, was a leading member of the Old Transkei Bunga which in turn was part of the apartheid system. — Donald Card, via e-mail